Stabilized brief case



June 21, 1949. LIFTON 2,474,003

STABILIZED BRIEF CASE Filed Dec. 30, 1948 I, i THi l III I I NW um WN m mf qmf a l VENTOR a I M o" A'ITORN Patented dune 21, 1949 UNITED. STATES PATENT ornca STABILIZED BRIEF CASE Lewis Lifton, New York, N. Y.

Application December 30, 1958, Serial No. 68,159

(Cl. ISO-1.8)

2 Claims.

This invention is a new and improved brief case of the type having reinforced pivotally associated complementary outer and inner frames desirably fastened to the spaced outer panels thereof and to the intervening expandible and contractible gusset connected to the panels. Where the brief case is closed these pivoted frames telescope and generally are in a vertical relation and closed but when the brief case is opened the pivoted inner ends of the frames swing upwardly to widely separate the latter and thus constitute a larger opening for conveniently inserting articles within the case. For conveniently carrying a brief case of the type alluded to resort is had to a swingable handle which is attached to the reach of the outside pivoted frame. Thus in carrying the brief case, an upward thrust due to the load is applied to the outer frame causing appreciable vertical separation between the reaches of the closed frames apart from unevenly distributing the load. One object of the invention deals with keeper means connected to the reach of the upper or outside hinged frame having channel shaped means for removably receiving the cooperating reach of the lower or inside frame to prevent separation of the upper reach away from the lower reach in the closed relation of the frames concomitantly absorbing a part of the intensity or weight of the load, thereby more effectively distributing the load on the companion pivoted frames for stabilizing purposes. Another important object is realized in the provision of serviceable protective shoes fixedly straddling spaced bottom portions of the brief case to prevent wear and marring thereof. Other important objects, and functional and structural features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description considered in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the brief case according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of- Fig. 1 but showing the brief case fully opened.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the protective shoes.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stabilizing keeper.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. '7 is a detailed and sectional view of a shoe attached to a bottom portion of the brief case and taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1.

Representative of the embodiment disclosed, the brief case It is characterized by the front and rear leather panels or walls H and I2 effectively interconnected by an expandible and contractible leather gusset I 3 fixedly carrying spaced partitions l4 and I5 for dividing the interior of the brief case into several compartments.

Appropriately fastened to the upper margins of the front and rear panels I I and I2 and to the gusset I! are the covered U-shaped inner or lower and outer or upper frames [6 and I! having their inner ends eflectively pivoted on the suitably retained fulcrum pins 20.

Straddling and fixedly secured by rivets 2| is the U or channel shaped upper component 22 of the keeper K having a lower U-shaped component 23 merging with and depending from the reversely curved component 22.

Component 23 is characterized by the slightly diverging walls 24 and 25 for straddling and removably receiving the lower or inside covered swingable frame IB when the frames are closed. Specifically component 23 conveniently receives and retains reach 26 of the lower frame l6 for absorbing a part of the load on the reach 21 when the brief case is lifted and suspended from the swingable handle H carried by reach 21. By such retaining action of the load absorbing component 23, the upper reach 21 is prevented from lifting away from the lower reach 26, thereby effectively sealing the frames in their collapsed or closed relation.

To prevent needless wear on the bottom part of the brief case protective metal shoes as S are fastened to spaced lower marginal portions of the panels H and I2 and contiguous spaced portions of the gusset l3. These shoes are also fastened to spaced portions of the lower folds F of the gusset.

Each shoe S constitutes a U-shaped member having its concavity facing upwardly and defined by the upstanding spaced sides 30 and 3| which in fact form ears straddling adjacent lower marginal portions of the brief case and which are fastened to the latter by suitable rivets 33. The bottom wall of each shoe is concave-convex in formation as shown and is adapted to effectively rest on a suitable supporting surface while the inside ends engage the lower parts of the brief case.

Tongue or flap T is secured to rear panel I2 and to the covering for the upper swingable frame I! and carries at its lower end a hasp H detachably latched by the locking means L. In the closed and locked relation of tongueT (Fig. 1) the latter conceals keeper K. On closing of the brief case, component or bight 22 of the keeper telescopically struction and arrangement of parts without dey parting from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein.

I claim:

1. In a brief case, spaced panels, a gusset interposed between said panels and secured thereto. upper and lower U-shaped telescoping frames secured to the upper margins of said panels and gusset and embodying upper and lower reaches and including depending side portions having their lower ends pivotally connected, and a onepiece keeper having an upper U-shaped component defining a relatively deep channel facing rearwardly for receiving substantially the entire width of said upper reach and including an oppositely facing depending lower U-shaped component integral with and disposed closely under said upper reach and in part extending rearwardly and appreciably beyond said lower component and having an upper downwardly and rearwardly uninterrupted member common to said upper component and including a downwardly and forwardly sloping lower member diverging away from said upper member and defining therewith a rearwardly contracted forwardly facing channel for removably and in part closely receiving said lower reach on closing of said frames to prevent vertical separation of said lower reach away from said upper reach.

2. In a brief case having lower juxtapositioned marginal portions, spaced shoes to prevent wear 4 on said portions and each comprising a one-piece hollow member including a lower wall and upstanding but transversely spaced ears defining with said lower wall an upwardly facing channel for closely receiving said marginal portions, said bottom wall being both longitudinally and transverselycurved to characterize an outwardly convex surface and an inner concaved surface at the bottom of said channel. said wall having ends at an elevation higher than the remaining intermediate portions thereof for supporting said marginal portions and for maintaining parts of said marginal portions between said ends spaced from said intermediate portions of said wall, and rivet means for anchoring said ears to said marginal portions.

' LEWIS LIE'ION. v,

0158 CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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